Ecoteric Systems are providing the innovative technology to work with nature in solving an age-old problem at a South Downs visitor attraction.
![]() |
| Butser directors Maureen Page and Simon Jay |
Work has begun on a high-tech, sustainable new treatment system for the sewage produced by 23,000 visitors each year at Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton.
The £32,000 project will save hundreds of thousands of gallons of water, create new habitats for wildlife and cut dozens of sewage truck journeys each year.
It is also the first stage in a major development plan to provide a £200,000 eco-friendly visitor centre at the site, which is a replica of an Iron Age farm in the heart of the South Downs.
Simon Jay, director at Butser, said: 'Our plans will bring the farm up-to-date, provide great new facilities for visitors while harmonising with the rural location of the farm.
'Our over-riding concern is to ensure that any new development here is sustainable and fits in with our beautiful environment on the Downs.'
The sustainable sewage project involves harvesting rainwater from the new visitor centre and the entrance road and using it to flush toilets.
The waste will travel underground through pipes to a treatment plant, then through a reed-bed filtration system before emerging as clean water into a constructed pond and wetland area.
The project is partly funded by a £25,000 grant from the South Downs Joint Committee. The farm will foot the remainder of the bill.
The £32,000 project will save hundreds of thousands of gallons of water, create new habitats for wildlife and cut dozens of sewage truck journeys each year.
It is also the first stage in a major development plan to provide a £200,000 eco-friendly visitor centre at the site, which is a replica of an Iron Age farm in the heart of the South Downs.
Simon Jay, director at Butser, said: 'Our plans will bring the farm up-to-date, provide great new facilities for visitors while harmonising with the rural location of the farm.
'Our over-riding concern is to ensure that any new development here is sustainable and fits in with our beautiful environment on the Downs.'
The sustainable sewage project involves harvesting rainwater from the new visitor centre and the entrance road and using it to flush toilets.
The waste will travel underground through pipes to a treatment plant, then through a reed-bed filtration system before emerging as clean water into a constructed pond and wetland area.
The project is partly funded by a £25,000 grant from the South Downs Joint Committee. The farm will foot the remainder of the bill.




